Uber announced it will launch its autonomous taxi service in London next year as part of a pilot program under new UK government trials for driverless vehicles.

In the initial phase, vehicles will have a human driver seated to take control in emergencies, but the plan is to transition to fully driverless taxis with no human presence.

This initiative marks the first time the UK government has allowed companies like Uber to conduct commercial trials of driverless services without a human operator on board. The trials will include taxis and “bus-like” services.

Uber CEO Andrew Macdonald described London’s roads as “one of the world’s busiest and most complex urban environments” and said, “Our vision is to make autonomy a safe and reliable option for riders everywhere, and this trial in London brings that future closer to reality.”

The public will be able to book the driverless taxis via an app starting spring 2026, ahead of a wider rollout expected after the Automated Vehicles Act becomes law in the second half of 2027.

The UK government estimates the technology could create up to 38,000 jobs, add £42 billion (about $57 billion) to the economy by 2025, and improve road safety.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said, “The future of transport is arriving,” adding that self-driving vehicles represent “jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be a world leader in new technology.”

Since January 2015, the UK has been running driverless vehicle trials, with British companies Wayve and Oxa spearheading significant technological advances. Wayve CEO Alex Kendall said these early pilots will “build public trust and unlock new jobs, services, and markets.”

The pending legislation will require autonomous vehicles to “achieve a level of safety at least as high as competent and careful human drivers.” With faster reaction times and training on real-world scenarios, self-driving cars could reduce accidents and fatalities.

Driverless taxis with limited capacity are already operating in the United States and China, most notably in Wuhan, China, where a fleet of over 500 vehicles can be hailed by app in designated areas.

With information from AFP